CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- Eight Midshipmen were among the 71 volleyball players who were named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for the sport this week.

A minimum grade-point average of 3.20 during the 2012 fall semester was required to earn the laurel from the league.

Earning placement onto her third academic honor roll was Erin Fortner (Jr., Villa Hills, Ky.). A 2012 First-Team All-Patriot League honoree, Fortner posted a 4.00 GPA during the fall term. The honors oceanography major who previously was named to the Patriot League All-Academic Team was the lone volleyball player in the league to compile a 4.00 GPA for the grading period.

While Fortner was named to her third honor roll, 2012 team captain Kelsey Owen (Sr., Canfield, Ohio) earned the honor for the fourth-consecutive season. The English major posted a 3.60 GPA last semester. Her classmate, Christy Rapp (Sr., Royal Oak, Mich.) earned her second-straight laurel from the league with her 3.25 GPA as an oceanography major, while J.B. Loomis (So., Havertown, Pa.), also picked up her second honor. She compiled a 3.61 GPA last semester while majoring in ocean engineering.

Earning the honor for the first time in their respective careers were Alex Cassel (So., Sandy, Utah), Eleanor Derouin (Fr., Raleigh, N.C.), Jamie Francona (Fr., Chestnut Hill, Mass.) and Case Trimble (So., Orlando, Fla.). Cassel, who is majoring in ocean engineering, posted a 3.24 GPA during the 2012 fall term, as did Trimble, who is an oceanography major. Derouin (3.59) and Francona (3.35) have not yet declared a major.